Recently, in an interview to Adani-owned NDTV, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, questioning Hindenburg’s intentions, batted for a Supreme Court panel to look into the Hindenburg research report, stating that Adani group stocks are overvalued due to alleged manipulation by the promoters and others. This statement comes from Pawar when all of the opposition has been rigid with its anti-Adani campaign, and when Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has been busy uniting opposition parties for the run-up to the 2024 elections.
Pawar said, “And these issues which were raised, who brought them forward, what was their background? It was important to assess this. A price had to be paid for this by the country’s economy. This cannot be ignored. It seems that the Adani group was being targeted”.
Following Pawar’s statement, the opposition instantly came out to once again voice its ‘anti-Adani’ stand, and make it clear that the ‘unity’ of the opposition will not be affected because of Pawar taking a stand for Adani. Sanjay Raut, leader of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, said that Pawar had not given a clean chit but talked about his views on the options on how to carry out the probe into the matter.
Raut added the be it West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, or NCP, their opinions on Adani can differ, but that will not lead to cracks in the unity of the opposition.
Further, Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate too, asserted that she did not feel that Pawar’s statement affected the opposition’s unity, and that the opposition stood united even while Pawar may have his own view on the matter.
She added that the Adani issue raised serious security and other concerns. She further said that seeing the entire opposition standing united, the Centre is baffled and disturbed and hence is now trying to control the internet.
On the other hand, Jairam Ramesh, AICC General Secretary, on Saturday, said that the Supreme Court committee looking into the Hindenburg research report has limited terms of reference, and cannot bring out the ‘deep nexus’ between the Prime Minister and the billionaire businessman. He added that only a JPC- Joint Parliamentary Committee, can find the answers to the ‘Hum Adani ke Hain Kaun’ series of 100 questions and more that are emerging.
Nana Patole, the Maharashtra Congress President too, said that his party was firm on its demand of a JPC probe into the matter. He added that irrespective of Pawar’s statement, a JPC probe should take place into the allegations made against the Adani group.
JD(U) Chief Nitish Kumar too, whose party has been supporting the demand for the JPC probe, did not quite approve of Pawar’s statement supporting a Supreme Court appointed committee for looking into the report. He stated further that it is for Pawar to elaborate on what he has said, and that different people have different opinions.
And while different people from different opposition parties are coming out to prove that Pawar’s statement does not make much difference and does not hamper the opposition’s unite stand against Adani, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the opposition should listen to Pawar’s advice in this matter.
